Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Flavorful and filling casseroles like this Cheesy Beef Casserole and this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole are something we make often.

This casserole recipe, in particular, is a favorite because it uses frozen veggies, which reduces extra time spent in the kitchen rinsing and chopping, which means fewer dishes, too!

💛 Why you’ll love this broccoli cauliflower casserole

• Straightforward ingredients that you may already have at home.
• Low-carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free.
• Can be made in advance to be baked right before serving.
• Ready in 30 minutes.
• A great option for serving as a side dish at holiday meals, like Thanksgiving.

➡️ Ingredients

⏲ How to make loaded cheesy broccoli cauliflower casserole

This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Steam Frozen Vegetables: Microwave the frozen cauliflower florets then the frozen broccoli florets until tender, according to the instructions on the bags.
• Cook Bacon: While the cauliflower and broccoli steam, cook the bacon slices in a large skillet until crispy, then transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate and crumble them into pieces.
• Mix Casserole Ingredients Together: Stir together the shredded cheeses then, in a separate bowl, mix together the sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and spices. Open the bags of steamed vegetables and pour out any extra water. Then, into the bowl of the cream sauce, fold in the veggies, half of the crumbled bacon, and about 1 cup of shredded cheese mixture.
• Transfer Mixture To Baking Dish: Transfer the cream sauce mixture to the prepared baking dish and, using a rubber spatula, spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese mixture then the remaining bacon crumbles on top.
• Bake Casserole: Cover the casserole dish with foil, transfer it to the oven, and bake. Then, remove the foil, move the oven rack to the top rack, and turn on the oven broiler. Broil the casserole until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden.
• Garnish And Serve: Remove the dish from the oven, and allow the casserole to cool slightly before garnishing with chopped green onions and serving.

👉 Ingredient substitutions suggestions

• Frozen Cauliflower Florets And Frozen Broccoli Florets: Fresh vegetables can be used here, as well as frozen florets that cannot be steamed in the microwave. If you choose fresh vegetables, you will need to steam the vegetables in a steamer basket on the stovetop until tender. If you choose frozen that isn’t in a microwavable steamable bag, follow the cooking instructions on the bag (you will likely need to boil or cook them in a steamer basket on the stovetop).
• Bacon: Turkey bacon works well in place of pork bacon. The bacon can also be omitted.
• Mayonnaise: Sour cream can be subbed for mayo at a 1:1 ratio.
• Garlic Powder: Use 2 cloves of garlic that have been minced in place of the garlic powder in this recipe.
• Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese: White cheddar, Gruyere, Colby, or gouda can be used instead.
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Provolone or white cheddar cheese can be used in place of shredded mozzarella.

✨ Variations

• Make the casserole spicy by including ground cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and/or Pepper Jack cheese.
• Include cooked shredded chicken for some added protein. Add it in when adding in the steamed vegetables and crumbled bacon.
• For an added crunch, sprinkle bread crumbs on top of the casserole before baking. Or, for a low-carb option, use finely crushed pork rinds.

〰️ How to serve

• Serve alongside a protein, like these chicken kebabs, brined chicken thighs, smoked turkey breast, or baked Parmesan salmon.
• Make the casserole your main dish and serve some jicama fries or lemon garlic spinach on the side.

➜ Cooking and recipe tips

• After you’ve steamed the vegetables, be sure to drain them of any excess water from the bags. Doing this will ensure the cream sauce with the veggies combines together well and isn’t watery. You can do this by cutting a small hole in the bags and tipping them over the sink or by pouring the vegetables in a colander and draining them that way.
• Storebought pre-shredded cheese or cheese you’ve freshly shredded both work! If you want to cut extra prep time off or if shredding cheese yourself isn’t an option, use pre-shredded.

💬 FAQs

📚 More casserole recipes

• Broccoli Casserole
• Twice Baked Potato Casserole
• Buffalo Chicken Casserole
• Sausage Breakfast Casserole
• Bacon Green Bean Casserole
• Philly Cheesesteak Casserole